Chapter 132

What else could there possibly be?

Dominic cleared his throat. “Another mark is starting to appear on the back of my hand. I can’t make it out yet. I'll… need a chance to wash my hands to be sure.”

"You just want to be able to wash it off," Neil said, smirking. "Plenty of soap over here."

Then Dominic said, “You win. I’m coming over. I’m starving, and I know you haven’t eaten.”

Neil rolled his eyes. “Bring enough for three.”

“Already ordered. Be there in twenty.”

The call ended.

Neil looked at me. "Guess this is as good as time as any to talk a little bit. You want to go first or me?"

I gestured at him.

“I wanted to talk to you about a lot of things,” he said honestly. “Explain things, but I didn’t want to pressure you or overwhelm you. Especially after the last time we were alone and I—”

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I said quickly. “I mean… I was…. You turned me into jelly."

He smiled at that. "Glad for it. You're still recovering… About the mark…" He took a deep breath. " I don't want you to ever fear me. And I needed time to make sure that I could be around you coherently."

"I was scared more because of what I'd been taught, but I've been told multiple times that what I know is… nonsense, so… I want to know the truth. Dominic's told me a little bit, but I think I wanna hear it from you too." My throat tightened. " And for the record, Neil, I don't think you could ever scare me.

He bobbed his head. " Well, why don't we start with what he's told you?"

“Dominic said it was a sign of the Goddess’ wrath.”

“She chose me for something,” he said. “I don’t know what yet, but it brought me to you… and for the first time in my life I'm not resentful of it.”

His eyes met mine, and I saw it there—hope, fear, longing, confusion—all tangled together.

“Will you join me?"

He nodded and sat beside me, still shirtless. The city lights spilled in, painting shadows on his skin.

“I’m scared,” I said finally. “Of everything this means.”

“You don’t have to choose anything right now. Not me. Not Dominic. Not even yourself. But you should know… whatever path you walk, I’ll walk it with you.”

"Because of the mark?"

"Because before the mark had even appeared on you, I wanted you. I still want you."

My gut flipped. I reached for his hand, lacing our fingers.

“I feel like an idiot… And Maya pointed out exactly why."

"Who is Maya?"

"Tyler's mate."

He blinked. "I'm going to need the full story about that."

I exhaled a shaky breath, then leaned into him, resting my head against his shoulder. His hand squeezed mine.

We stayed like that for a little while before my stomach grumbled. He chuckled.

“You should get dressed.”

I smirked, arms still crossed in my robe. “And if I don’t want to?”

He stood slowly, eyes glinting with mischief and desire, scanning me in a way that set my whole body on fire.

“Then I’ll take it as an invitation.”

My whole body flushed with heat.

He turned away before I could respond, heading to the kitchen and giving me the privacy I wasn’t sure I wanted.

The mark on my chest pulsed. I could feel his desire, his mischief and grabbed my phone to text Arielle.

Are you Zeke and Dev mates?

Yes. Why? Bond awakening?

I bit my lip and stood, carrying my phone to the bedroom where a few changes of clothes were and called.

"How do you blot it out?"

She laughed. "Why would you want to?"

After talking with Arielle, I barely had time to fix my hair and throw on some real clothes when Dominic arrived, the familiar smell of spiced cologne and takeout preceding him.

The moment he stepped inside, the energy in the condo shifted like someone had dropped a charged wire in a pool. And Neil? His entire presence had changed. The red in his eyes looked deeper. Glowing faintly under the warm lighting. Reptilian. Primal. Hungry.

I froze mid-step.

Dominic slowed, a container of food in each hand. His gaze flicked to Neil, narrowed instantly, then moved to me, scanning for signs of distress.

“Everything alright here?”

Neil gave him a sharp smile, all teeth and intensity. “Better now. You brought food.”

“I did,” Dominic said slowly, like he wasn’t sure if he should hand it over or use it as a shield.

We sat down at the dining table. The three of us. A meal meant to be casual, maybe even comforting. Instead, it felt like trying to eat while sitting on a live grenade.

No one said anything for a while.

Forks scraped. Chewing filled the silence. I tried to focus on the rice and spicy curry in front of me, but I couldn't taste it around the tension in the air. The problem was that Neil didn't look tense at all. He looked thoughtful, sure, but there was this air of enjoyment about him. I could feel how happy he still was, how completely unbothered. It was unfair. And from the look on Dominique's face as he eyed Neil as he ate and got the sense that he could feel it too, if not just sense it.

Then Neil looked at Dominic, nodding toward his right hand. “Can I see it?”

Dominic blinked. “What?”

“The mark,” Neil said. “You said something was forming on your hand.”

Dominic glanced at me. We exchanged a look, full of questions neither of us knew how to ask. He hesitated, then extended his hand.

The faint outline was still there, dark against his tanned skin, but definitely something.

Neil studied it in silence, then stood. “I need to make a call.”

He left the room without waiting for a response, disappearing into the hallway and closing a door behind him.

I let out a slow breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

Dominic leaned toward me, voice low. “What’s gotten into him?”

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “He was… fine. Then he wasn’t.”

“What happened before I got here?"

"We talk but…"

"When did his eyes start glowing?"

"Earlier…"I nodded and pushed my food around on my plate. “Do you know anything about them?"

He shook his head. Dominic glanced toward the closed door, brows furrowed. “His magic might be destabilizing again. You feel it too, don’t you?”

“I thought I was just… flustered.”

He gave me a wry look. “You’re glowing again.”

I looked down.

Damn it.

The scythe mark on my chest was faintly visible beneath my shirt, pulsing like a second heartbeat.

I covered it with my hand, embarrassed.

We sat in silence again, trying to pretend the food mattered. Trying to pretend things were normal.

Then Neil came back.

Still glowing.

Still charged.

Still not his usual self. His expression was too calm, too smooth, like something was draped over the real Neil and wearing him like a suit. He leaned against the edge of the table, gaze fixed on me.

I tried not to squirm under it.

“Your eyes,” I said softly. “They’re glowing again.”

He tilted his head. “Are they?”

I pointed to the mirror that hung above the bar cart.

Neil turned.

And cursed under his breath.

A shudder rolled through him, his skin seeming to crackle with restrained magic. Even the air felt thinner, hotter.

“Neil—”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

His voice was low, controlled. But not calm.

Magic rippled through the room like steam rising from boiling water. It skated across my skin, making my breath hitch and my cheeks burn. My body recognized it. Wanted it. Reacted to it.

Dominic cursed quietly beside me.

“Channel it out,” he said to Neil. “Release some of it or ground it. You’re making her glow again.”

Neil’s head snapped toward him, and for a moment, I thought they might fight. Then, something changed.

Neil’s expression shifted. The look was devious, sly, a wicked grin curling his lips.

“Oh,” he said slowly. “You’re right. I probably should…”

And before I could react, he slipped closer to me, grabbed my hand, and pulled me gently but firmly into his lap.

I squeaked. “Neil!”

“Tell me to stop,” he said, voice dark velvet.

My heart thundered. Magic surged through me again, his power pressing against mine, their edges blurring. My skin tingled from where he held me.

“This isn’t talking,” I managed, placing a hand on his chest to push away, but it wasn’t much of a push. More like a trembling press. "This isn't… isn't you."

He hesitated, then he met my gaze, searching my face.

“This is me,” he said softly. “You think the polite version is all I am? That I’m not capable of something darker?"

I almost wanted to ask him what he meant.